Liya Palagashvili is a senior research fellow and director of the Labor Policy Project at the Mercatus Center. In Liya’s first appearance on the show she explains federal and state level changes to labor regulations, who makes up the gig economy workforce, the role women play in the independent workforce, the novel concept of portable benefits, and much more.

Check out the transcript for this week’s episode, now with links.

Recorded on January 31st, 2025

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Timestamps:

(00:00:00) – Intro

(00:01:37) – Liya’s Background and Interest in Labor Economics

(00:03:18) – Labor Policy Project and Labor Market Matters

(00:07:32) –Independent Contractors and the Gig Economy

(00:17:20) – Independent Work as a Buffer from Shocks

(00:23:40) – Women and Independent Work

(00:31:01) – Men in the Independent Workforce

(00:35:23) – Myths Surrounding the Gig Economy

(00:39:36) – Portable Benefits for Independent Workers

(00:49:48) – Port Strikes and Dynamic Labor Markets

(01:02:36) – Outro